Sheriff's Office 2021 Annual Report - February 2022 Newsletter

2021 Annual Report - Newsletter (Volume 8, Issue 2)

To view each of the different stories in the newsletter, please click on the title below.

Note from Sheriff Torgerson

Our deputies and staff conquer many things brought on by mandates as well as the daily challenges our communities face. The dedicated men and women of the Office dedicate themselves amidst a growing distrust created by issues and incidents from around the world forcing us to take a good hard look at how we do our business of public safety. With leadership and cooperation at all levels internally and from other County Departments, the cities of Rochester, Stewartville, Pine Island, Oronoco, Eyota, Dover, Chatfield and Byron and Townships, our communities feel safe. I’m increasingly supported by our county board and administrator, city councils and mayors, township officials, legislators and others in leadership. We have a great team approach to the challenges we have faced and those yet to come.

We are excited to confront the issues before us. Our mission is to provide quality services that promote and protect the well-being, safety and security of all people in our community. We strive to meet the needs of our community’s diversity, growth, technology challenges and work to prepare for the future of Olmsted County its cities and townships.

In 2022, we will continue to pursue our mission and endeavor to provide justice for all.

2021 Annual Report

Mission Statement: “To provide quality services that promote and protect the well-being, safety, and security of all people in our community.”

Who We Are: With nearly 162,847 citizens, Olmsted County ranks seventh in population size among Minnesota counties with the third-largest city in the State; Rochester. Olmsted County consists of 18 townships and seven cities, for a total area of 653 square miles.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) consists of 194 dedicated employees led by Sheriff Kevin Torgerson. Approximately 99 staff work in the Adult Detention Center (ADC), and 95 work in the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).

OCSO is a full-service law enforcement agency responsible for calls for service, investigation of crimes, crime prevention, public education, warrants service, and civil process in Olmsted County, in the unincorporated areas of Olmsted County. OCSO also provides contract law enforcement to Byron, Dover and Eyota, Oronoco, and Stewartville, Minnesota. OCSO is divided into the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) and the Adult Detention Center (ADC). The LEC and ADC work together to deliver excellent service within our community.

Adult Detention Center (ADC)

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the detention of adult prisoners, including pre-sentenced, sentenced, boarders, work release, and court security. The ADC has three primary divisions: Staff Training and Programming, Administrative, and Operations.

Staff Training and Programming

The Staff Training and Programming Division is responsible for staff training, work release, sentenced to service, drug court, and inmate programs. Staff training includes training of new hires, existing staff and contract employees, policy review, and compliance. Programming includes work release and sentence to service for detainees and drug court. It also provides programming for the detainees and works with civilian volunteers.

Work Release by the Numbers: 36 males and nine females were housed at Work Release in 2021. This number is unusually low due to COVID.

Giving Back: A total of 3,424 hours of detainee Sentence to Service (STS) hours were provided in 2021. This number is also lower than average due to COVID.

Time to Train: The ADC hired 13 Detention Deputies in 2021, 9 of which were trained on a shift in 2021. The other four were still in the academy before the end of the year. To prepare nine people on shift required 4,764.25 hours of training time by dedicated staff. Additionally, trainees receive 127.5 hours of academy time before going to shift.

Detainees and Training as Well: OCSO encourages detainees to further their education if they desire while staying in the ADC. In 2021, detainees took advantage of approximately 746 hours of education. Further, some received GED Graduations.

Drug Court Program:  In 2021 there were approximately 24 participants in the Drug Court Program. In addition, there were eight graduates and three terminations from the program.

Administrative Services

The Administrative Services Division is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating support services for the Sheriff’s Office to help it run effectively. This includes organizing deputy sheriff new hire testing, promotional exam testing, and hiring support services and clerical staff. In addition, this division oversees the booking and court services within the ADC, compliance, and staff wellness.

Operations

The Operations Division is responsible for the daily schedule and management of the Adult Detention Center. In addition, maintaining the safety and security of our detainees and staff during the detainee’s stay at the ADC. Safety and security include daily activities, managing behavior, medical care, food services, and maintaining a high level of compliance standards.

Gun Permits

Permit to Purchase: 1366

Permit to Carry: 1952

ADC Bookings, Court, and Other Information

ADC Bookings (meaning someone was brought into the ADC and processed as a detainee. They were then either kept until appearing in front of a judge or released and notified of future legal proceedings)

Male - 2202

Female - 593

Average Daily Population Male - 69.99

Average Daily Population Female - 5.67

Court Statistics

Arraignments - 1800

Scheduled - 1002 (737 handled via Zoom, 189 in person, and 76 by other)

Law Enforcement Center (LEC)

The Law Enforcement Center (LEC) side of the Sheriff’s Office consists of 79 licensed deputies and 16 support personnel. There are six divisions of the LEC: Patrol, Administrative Services, Staff Training and Emergency Management, Civil and Warrants, Investigations, Government Center Security and Transport, and SE MN Violent Crimes Enforcement Team. 

Patrol

Deputies provide 24-hour coverage and take pride in providing effective, efficient, and fair law enforcement when persons who live and travel throughout Olmsted County need assistance. Additionally, Patrol is responsible for responding to calls for service, traffic enforcement, and general law enforcement operations in the county. Many deputies in the Patrol Division are trained in various aspects of service, including joint teams with the Rochester Police Department on the K9 Team, Emergency Response Unit, Forensic Mapping Unit, Project Lifesaver (At-Risk Individual Search Team), and the Crisis Intervention Team. Other capacities of expertise in training include Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun instructors, Use of Force instructors, D.A.R.E. instructors, Field Training Officers, Intoxilyzer Operators, Drug Recognition Experts, and the Honor Guard.

Civil and Warrants

The Civil and Warrants Division is a combined unit in the Sheriff’s Office responsible for serving court-ordered documents, civil papers, and arrest warrants for wanted persons in Olmsted County and beyond.

SE MN Violent Crimes Enforcement Team

The Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SEMVCET) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotic and violent crime unit that shares the common goal of disrupting/destroying illegal drug and gang activity and violent crimes in Southeast Minnesota.

No Slow Down in Sight: The OCSO Investigators assigned to the task force worked approximately 142 narcotics and violent crime cases in 2021. Further, they received over 100 tips relating to various suspected criminal activities to follow up on.

Administrative Services

The Administrative Services Division is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating support services for the Sheriff’s Office to help it run effectively. This includes organizing Deputy Sheriff new hire testing, promotional exam testing, and hiring support services and clerical staff. The division manages the Sheriff’s Office fleet vehicles, including squad car ordering and maintenance. It analyzes internal processes recommending and implementing procedural or policy changes. The division improves operations and ensures policy alignment with state and federal laws and standards as well as works on planning and coordinating budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies. This includes vendor contracts for technologies currently used or considered by the Sheriff’s Office.

Keeping the Wheels Turning: OCSO’s two mechanics maintain a fleet of over 90 vehicles. In addition, more than a dozen new vehicles are purchased each year, needing to be customized to their specific uses, such as squad cars, transport vans, and more. 

Like us on Social Media: OCSO has a Media Development Specialist on staff that maintains our social media sites, covers public outreach, works with our Public Information Officer (PIO), and more so the public is kept up to date on current affairs. Check us out online and see all that we are up to.

Staff Training and Emergency Management

The Staff Training Division is responsible for initial training of new hires and meeting all Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) board education requirements for our licensed staff. The Emergency Management Division is charged with planning and exercising man-made and natural disasters. This includes maintaining and updating our County’s Emergency Operations Plan. The division also maintains and operates the 97 outdoor warning sirens and facilitates the countywide Storm Watch program.

OCSO’s Commitment to Excellence and Training Pays Off

2021 total calls for service (CFS) equaled 31,967. OCSO reported 55 Use of Force (UOF) incidents in 2021. Put another way, deputies only had to use force in 1 of every 582 CFS, or 0.0017%. OCSO has been a leader in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) since 2007. CIT training has been proven to dramatically reduce the risk of injury and/or death to both officers and consumers of mental health services while reducing the number of repeat calls for service. Currently, 73.8% of Patrol and Detention Deputies are certified in CIT. Emergency dispatchers are also given training on CIT.

Just How Much Training?

• OCSO staff received approximately 9,276 hours of training in 2021. Of this, 7,536 hours were POST (Peace Officer Standards Training) certified, and 1740 hours in other areas.
• 17 Deputies were hired and trained in 2021 (6 started at the end of 2020). The new hires replaced ten resignations and five retirements.

Investigations

The Investigations Division is responsible for follow-up investigations after a referral from the Patrol Division, including sex assault investigations, child abuse investigations, and vulnerable adult investigations. Additionally, most of the investigations conducted by our people are referred to us from Olmsted County Community Services, including Child Protection, Adult Protection, and Victim Services.

Investigations By the Numbers

390 - The amount of Misdemeanor, Gross-Misdemeanor, and Felony level cases referred to the County Attorney’s Office

194 -Cases assigned to the Investigations Division

109 -Cases assigned to the Investigations Division for follow-up or to be closed out

Government Center Security and Transport

The Government Center Security (GCS) and Transport Divisions provide security for the Government Center and transport persons in custody on court orders, arrest warrants, or established legal authority. The GCS Division are the deputies that staff the Screening Station on the Second floor, provide armed security in District Courtrooms, and arrest offenders that arrive at the Government Center.

Fun Fact: While 2021 was a slower year in the secure area of the government center due to COVID, weapon screening deputies still screened approximately 27,000 individuals. 

Just How  Many Transports?

Organization	Total Trips	Total Miles	Total Deputy Hours
ADC Medical Trips	53	166	90
County Attorney Writs	23	4497	133
Detainees Housed Offsite	1	177	6
District Court Commitments	32	6755	237
Extraditions	15	3232	370
JDC Transports	14	2916	102
NW Shuttle	8	1071	39
S.O.-Warrants/Apps	166	24027	698
Social Services	55	9936	2008
Grand Totals	367	52,776.26	3,682.25

Senior Administration

Sheriff

Kevin Torgerson

Chief Deputy of Adult Detention Center

Brian Howard

Captains

David Adams

Samantha Reps

Macey Tesmer

Chief Deputy of Law Enforcement Center

Terry Waletzki

Captains

Mike Bromberg

Jon Jacobson

Tim Parkin

James Schueller

Chris Wallace

Executive Assistant

Laura Collins